“You could lose a little around the hips. That wouldn’t hurt.” He got out of bed and began to put his clothes on his perfect flawless body. I hated him. I hated his goddamn little girlfriend, Pepper Allen, who was as thin as a boy, and I hated his perfect body. I got up and began to put on my clothes and get ready to leave. His body might be better than mine but my face was prettier and my daddy was richer and they were my babies.

“I’m going to be making six hundred dollars a month,” he said. “We have to make a budget. We have to live within our means.”

“I’m going to get the babies up and feed them before we leave. I’m so excited, Malcolm. I can’t wait to get there.”

“They’ve never had a plant engineer. I’m going to do the first time-studies ever done in this plant. If it works, they’ll use the program in the other plants. I’ll be gone a lot. You’ll have to amuse yourself. I won’t be there all the time.”

“I’ll do anything.” I went to him and put my arms around him. “I’ll be so good. I’ll be good at everything. I love you so much. I love you more than words can say.”

“We have to make a home for these boys. We have to go to church and stay home with them and have a real home.”

“I want that too. It’s what I want. I want it more than anything.”

“Okay, go get them up. Let’s get out of here.”

* * *

I wanted to stop in Montgomery and see Derry on our way to Alexandria but Malcolm didn’t want to spend the time. He did let me stop and call from a pay phone at a gas station. “Are you better?” I asked her. “Are you okay?”

“I will be. The arm’s pretty bad. I may not be able to type but I think my face will be like new. Can you come over? I’d like to meet your husband. I’m glad you made up with him, Rhoda. You were so sad when you were here. It made me sad to watch you.”

“No, he’s impatient to get there. He’s just getting gasoline. Oh, Derry, I can’t believe this happened. I can’t believe it happened to you.”

“I have bodyguards now. Two bodyguards from the Justice Department. They’re very nice. They live here, even at night. It’s driving Charles crazy, of course. Well, I’m sorry you can’t come by. Keep in touch with me though.”

“Derry.”

“Yes.”

“Have you seen Jim?”

“Not in a few days. He’s going back to Washington next week. He liked you so much.”

“Tell him hello for me, will you?”

“Of course.”